Last week, the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jets took off from Sweden for the first time in history. This happened within the framework of an agreement on cross-border training of the Nordic countries.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force sent two fifth-generation fighter jets to the neighboring country. The F-35A Lightning II with conventional takeoff and landing belongs to the 331st Squadron. The fifth-generation aircraft arrived at the Vidsel base.
In Sweden, the fighters landed, refueled and took off again. This made it possible to increase the efficiency of air operations and deepen cooperation between the countries. This was stated by the Deputy Commander of the Swedish Air Force, Brigadier General Tommy Petersson.
The F-35A’s visit to Sweden was part of a revival of the concept of dispersed operations that fell out of favor after the end of the Cold War. Earlier, the fifth-generation fighters visited Finland, where they took off and landed on a highway.
The concept is known in NATO as Agile Combat Employment (ACE). Its essence is to disperse forces between operational points without compromising combat capabilities. In the case of the F-35A Lightning II, this approach will allow the aircraft to be removed from the attack in the event of a possible war when military bases become targets.
